Aust considers legal action against Japan

The Turnbull government is considering legal action in response to Japan's decision to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean this summer.

The government says it is exploring options for further legal action and has joined 32 nations protesting the decision in a bid to build international consensus against Japanese whaling.

"The Australian government does not support what is a deeply disappointing decision by Japan and we will continue to raise our concerns at the highest level of the Japanese government," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Environment Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement on Monday.

Australia's concerns were raised in a demarche, or joint letter, with New Zealand and European Union members.

The demarche conveys "serious concerns" regarding Japan's decision to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean in the 2015/16 season under what Japan calls its New Scientific Research Whale Program.